Hong Kong police officer fired two gun shots to save stricken colleague’s life, Edward Leung riot trial hears
Constable Wong Hing-wai tells High Court he decided to switch from a baton to his pistol after the angry mob continued to attack his unconsciousness colleague
A Hong Kong police officer had “no choice” but to fire two warning shots during the Mong Kok riot in 2016 because he feared for the life of an injured colleague under attack, a court heard on Thursday.
Constable Wong Hing-wai told the High Court that he decided to switch from a police baton to his pistol after the angry mob on Argyle Street on February 9, 2016 continued to attack his unconsciousness colleague even though he was lying motionless on the ground.
Wong was testifying in the high-profile riot trial of pro-independence activist Edward Leung Tin-kei, 26, and four others.
“I just wanted to save my colleague,” Wong said. “I was left with no choice but to open fire into the air in the hope that I could stop those attacking.”
The traffic police officer recalled that the verbal warnings he issued before firing fell on deaf ears, which left him fearing his colleague might be subject to serious or even fatal injuries. So he fired two shots, he told the court.